KulturfestNYC Series

Kultufest@MJH – Festival Central

The home of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, the Museum of Jewish Heritage is a living memorial to those who perished during the Holocaust, honoring who died by celebrating their lives—cherishing the traditions that they embraced, examining their achievements and faith, and affirming the vibrant worldwide Jewish community that is their legacy today. New generations are taught how to recognize and fight contemporary instances of injustice and oppression.

Select Events: A tribute to her mother’s journey of survival in the throes of the Holocaust, An Evening with Mona Golbek, employs story and music to chronicle this unforgettable tale based on the novel The Children of Willesden Lane; lift your voices and join in with the film on your favorite songs with the Fiddler on the Roof Sing-Along; support the next-generation of Jewish performers at the Folksbiene Youth Academy Ensemble Concert; travel back to time with Golden Bride costume designer Izzy Fields in the interactive discussion panel Stitching Through Time; dynamic, tuneful, and vibrant Yiddish Art Triois critically-acclaimed musical act at the forefront of the international Klezmer revival; founded by clarinetist Okuma Wataru and drummer Kogure miwazo, Japan’s premiere Klezmer band Jinta-La-Mvta returns to this year’s KulturfestNYC for an encore performance.

Kulturfest@BaruchPAC

This Play Series in the Nagleberg Theater at the Baruch Performing Arts Center features Uncle Arthur a moving mono-drama about an Israeli playwright’s failed attempt to rectify his past, performed by Rafael Goldwaser of Der LufTeater (Strasbourg, France); Tonight Lola Blau a stunning tour-de-force performanceby Maia Mogenstern of The State Jewish Theater of Romania about a tormented Viennese cabaret star who makes it big on Broadway; and a staged reading of The Wedding in Foehrewaldby Yiddish playwright H. Leyvick, chronicling how a devastated people learned to overcome grief through an unparalleled commitment to the continuation of Jewish life.

Kulturfest@Joe’s Pub at The Public

Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe’s Pub at The Public opened in 1998 and has since played a vital role in The Public’s mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space and superior acoustics to perform and develop new work. Featured acts include mandolin and clarinet virtuoso Andy Statman; Daniel Kahn: Brothers Nazaroff, an international Yiddish folk-punk supergroup comprised of Daniel Kahn, Psoy Korolenko and Jake Shulman-Men; Párniczky Quartet: Bartók Electrified, a unique flavor of jazz and modern Hungarian classical music; a concert and record release party in one, A Vilde Mikhaye! features Grammy Award winner Frank London, Tony Award nominee Eleanor Reissa and the Klezmer Brass Allstars; conceived by vocalist Ravid Kahalani, Yemen Blues mixes of West African music with contemporary grooves.

Kulturfest@City Winery

After making his first barrel of wine in California with his brother Josh and wine maker David, Michael Tate came up with the idea for City Winery, which today strives to deliver the highest-end combined culinary and cultural experience to our customers who are passionate in sharing wine, music, and culinary arts. Featured acts include: the unique klezmer collective Litvakus, led by clarinetist, vocalist, and composer Zisl Slepovitch; saxophonistPaul Shapiro whose music combines Yiddish pop and R&B; led by vocalist Alty Weinreb Lyla Canté (Judeo Flamenco) deliver as powerful mixture of Flamenco, Sefardi, and Ashkenazi music; Alon Nechustan whose music blends middle eastern, African, dance and jazz; the soulful, fun-loving powerhouse all-women klezmer sextet Isle of Klezbos.